U.S. warns of pirates in calling maritime travel warning, insecurity in Bay of Campeche and Southern Gulf of Mexico

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat
Security Alert: Bay of Campeche and Southern Gulf of Mexico (Mexico), Maritime Travel Safety

Location:  Bay of Campeche and Areas of the Southern Gulf of Mexico

Event:  Maritime Travel Safety in the Bay of Campeche and Southern Gulf of Mexico

Armed criminal groups have been known to target and rob commercial vessels, oil platforms, and offshore supply vessels in the Bay of Campeche area in the southern Gulf of Mexico.  The U.S. Department of State updated theTravel Advisory and Country Information page for Mexico on June 17, 2020, to reflect this information.

The overall Travel Advisory level for Mexico remains Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution, with some areas designated Level 3 or Level 4.  Travelers are encouraged to read the entire Advisory.  The national and state Advisory levels remain unchanged from the update published on December 19, 2019.

The Department of State issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19 on March 31.  This is still in effect.  The Department advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19.  In countries where commercial departure options remain available, such as Mexico, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.  Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Mexico.

Actions to Take:

Mariners planning travel to Mexico should check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts at  https://www.maritime.dot.gov/msci-alerts, which include instructions on reporting suspicious activities and attacks to Mexican naval authorities.

Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist.